Dale Kooyenga
This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (April 2013) |
Dale P. Kooyenga | |
---|---|
Member of the Wisconsin Senate from the 5th district | |
Assumed office January 7, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Leah Vukmir |
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 14th district | |
In office January 3, 2011 – January 7, 2019 | |
Preceded by | Leah Vukmir |
Succeeded by | Robyn Vining |
Personal details | |
Born | Oak Lawn, Illinois | February 12, 1979
Political party | Republican |
Residence | Brookfield, Wisconsin |
Alma mater | Lakeland College (BA) Marquette University (MBA) |
Website | Official website |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army Army Reserve |
Years of service | 2005 – present |
Rank | Major |
Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Awards | Bronze Star Medal |
Dale Kooyenga (born February 12, 1979) is an American politician, Certified Public Accountant, and Army Reserve officer serving as a member of the Wisconsin Senate. He was elected in January 2019 and represents the 5th district.[1] He was previously a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly representing the 14th district from January 2011 to January 2019.
Early life and education[]
Born in Oak Lawn, Illinois , Kooyenga grew up the oldest of four siblings in the southwest Chicago suburb of Evergreen Park, Illinois. He attended Chicago Christian High School and went on to attend Moraine Valley Community College. Kooyenga played basketball at Moraine Valley and was subsequently recruited by Lakeland College in Sheboygan, Wisconsin where he played NCAA Div III basketball and graduated with honors. Kooyenga earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2000 and MBA from Marquette University in 2007.
He is an Iraq War veteran.[2][3] He continues to serve in the Army Reserve as a major in Civil Affairs Corps.
Career[]
Kooyenga moved to Milwaukee in 2001, passed the Certified Public Accounting exam, and began working for an accounting firm. In 2005 Kooyenga left public accounting to join the United States Army. He attended the United States Army's basic training, Officer Candidate School and the Military Intelligence Officer Course. After completing the year-long Army training Kooyenga returned to his career in public accounting. Kooyenga served in Iraq from January 2008 to November 2008. Although trained as a Military Intelligence Officer, Kooyenga was assigned as the 4th Infantry Division's Officer in Charge of Economic Development in Baghdad. Kooyenga was awarded the Bronze Star for his service.
Politics[]
In Fall 2010, Kooyenga was elected to represent the 14th District for the Wisconsin State Assembly. He was sworn into office on January 3, 2011.
In May 2017, Kooyenga removed a protester's sign, which had a valid permit, from a public area of the Wisconsin State Capitol which was critical of President Donald Trump.[4] The owner filed a lawsuit against Kooyenga and the State of Wisconsin for violating his First Amendment rights, which led to the State paying him $30,000 to settle the lawsuit in April 2018.[4] Kooyenga repaid the $30,000 to the state in July 2018.[5]
Kooyenga has introduced legislation in the Wisconsin legislature to introduce ranked-choice voting (RCV). He argued that RCV would reduce polarization and extremism by removing incentives for legislators to cater to extremist elements within their parties.[6]
Electoral history[]
Wisconsin State Senate, 5th District election, 2018 [7] | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | Percentage | |||
Republican | Dale Kooyenga | 47,836 | 51.15% | |||
Democratic | Julie Henszey | 45,591 | 48.75% | |||
Others | 102 | 0.11% |
References[]
- ^ "Wisconsin State Legislature Home Page". legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ "2019 Wisconsin State Representatives". docs.legis.wisconsin.gov.
- ^ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
- ^ a b "Wisconsin taxpayers to pay $30,000 to settle lawsuit after Rep. Dale Kooyenga took a protester's sign". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
- ^ Marley, Patrick. "Rep. Dale Kooyenga pays back Wisconsin taxpayers $30,000 three months after he said he would". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- ^ "Bipartisan push for ranked-choice voting in Wisconsin". AP NEWS. 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
- ^ "Wisconsin State Election Results" (PDF). November 6, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- Lakeland College (Wisconsin) alumni
- Marquette University alumni
- Members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
- 1979 births
- Living people
- Wisconsin Republicans
- 21st-century American politicians